Rating:

“Every brewery has someone who holds it together. For us, that’s Bugs. So we brewed him this ESB—an honest beer, built on rich malt character, balanced bitterness, and a smooth, easy finish. It’s simple, grounded, and full of depth, a reflection of the man who inspired it. This beer is more than a thank you—it’s a celebration. Buggs, this place would be a mess with out you, and this one’s yours.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Hits the glass with a nice amber complexion. It only manages a short off-white head which quickly forms a collar. Skint lacing as it ebbs.

Aroma: Malt-forward which is to be expected from an ESB. Biscuity with a raft of other scents like toast with jam, woody spice, light caramels, honey and red-petal flowers. It does have a hint of fruitiness to it but it’s not your typical shortlist…they come off as woodland fruits i.e blackberry, blackcurrant, elderberry, rose hip etc. Some herbals also getting amongst it. Not bad.

Flavour: Pretty much like every other Aussie interpretation – it’s on the right path but it’s nowhere near as good as a trad English ESB. The caramel sweetness and toasty notes are there but they’re not that well integrated into the hop bill…which we’re sorry to say, doesn’t cut the mustard. Where’s the marmalade and mandarin? Nutty and woody notes? The floral-infused honey? It’s all MIA.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and buttery, slightly drier in the swallow. Light-moderate body and Co2. The 4.8% is neither here nor there.

Overall: We have high standards when it comes to this style. Traditional English ESB’s are pretty easy to find (plus at sharp prices) so the odds are stacked against these Aussie interpretations that are more expensive and less enjoyable. Ah well, here’s cheers to Buggs. Hopefully he’s enjoying it.

Rating:

“Floral and earthy aromas accompany fruit esters showcased by the characterful British yeast pitched on this ESB. The lower carbonation illuminates the biscuity, nutty, caramel flavours of this beer. The finish strikes a delightful balance of malty sweetness and bitterness, perfect for the cooling months ahead.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Hits the glass with a copper hue and a short white head which retreats to the rim. A wet, spotty lace is dragged down the glass.

Aroma: There are numerous Aussie breweries that cannot get this style right so it’s a welcome surprise to take in this nicely balanced and true-to-style aroma. Immediately we get that classic British malt bill of toast, caramel, nuts and buttery biscuit. If we had to guess we’d say EKG hops were used as it displays a notable floral scent accompanied by softer hints of woody spice, sage, grass and earthy honey. Solid.

Flavour: Follows through nicely. It stays well balanced and it’s free of that undesirable syrupy sweetness that plagues most Aussie-brewed ESB’s. Equal parts sweet to savoury, caramel and buttery biscuits, nutty, toasty and grainy. The hops opting for more of an earthy approach here with the floral, spicy and woody aspects playing a good support role as it finishes with a soft bitterness and a semi sweet malt.

Mouthfeel: Sticky, a little chewy. Co2 is kept pretty low. Medium body and a neat little 4.7% ABV.

Overall: This was our first crack at this brewery from the Southwest of Sydney. We have it on good intel that the head brewer is English so that explains a lot. Very pleasantly surprised by the quality of this.

Rating:

“Orange, marmalade, dried apricots, slightly woody, stone fruit & herbaceous with a malty backbone provided by Golden Promise malt. If you’re lucky, you may just get to try it fresh from our hand pump at our Botany Taproom!”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Muddy and somewhat burnished dark orange pour capped off by a billowing three finger head. It takes an age to reduce and decorates the glass nicely as it retracts.

Aroma: Smells mostly of orange citrus and dried fruits like apricot, apple and mango. Definitely some herbals getting amongst it – mint is the main one with more subtle notes of lemongrass, basil and sage. Not getting much from the malt though…by that we mean it’s fairly clean with a mild sweetness and missing the conventional English traits.

Flavour: Pretty darn tasty actually. It’s well balanced, crisp and certainly tastes like an old world pale ale, the only thing is it tastes nothing like a British pale ale . Even with the traditional list of ingredients to go with it. We get dried orchard fruits, mixed herbs, light florals and a semi-sweet biscuit malt into a dry, slightly bitter and malty finish.

Mouthfeel: Chewy and well rounded. Medium body, lifted Co2. The 5% ABV is on par for the style.

Overall: Even though it doesn’t taste a lot like a British pale ale we aren’t going to pan it. It was actually a rather good beer in its own right. Rename it as an old-world pale ale and it’s on the money.

Rating:

“A modern Australian interpretation of a British ESB, once a staple of the 3 Ravens range, first brewed in 2003 and now reimagined through the lens of our current philosophy – to use fresh, local raw materials to brew the best beer that we can. With layers of malt, fruity yeast and a balanced bitterness this is a session ale for all seasons.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Gorgeous deep amber pour with a reddish tint. It only manages a finger of khaki head before settling to a collar. Some wet spotty lace is dragged down the glass as it subsides.

Aroma: Initially it hits as a proper malt bomb but it opens up fairly quickly as we take in notable fruity yeast accents along with earthy and floral hops. There’s an obscure sweetness in here that’s really straddling the line between good cloying. It’s a little syrupy and artificial but the toasty malt and savoury biscuit notes are saving it. We’re a bit on the fence still.

Flavour: Not too bad. We usually tear shreds off Aussie breweries who butcher this style but this interpretation gets a pass. It’s got that nice toasty malt backing supported by savoury biscuits and caramel. The floral and earthy hops taste fresh and offset the malts nicely. Fruit esters come through intermittently while a line of bitterness drives through to the well balanced finish.

Mouthfeel: Crisp and mineraly with a little bit of chew. Mild-medium body, flat-ish Co2 and a well placed 4.5% ABV.

Overall: The last time we had an ESB from 3 Ravens was their “USB” back in 2016 which we rated highly. This offering was nowhere near as good but it still holds its own. Not bad.

Rating:

“Introducing our very first ESB release at Banks Brewery: You Sound Like You’re From London. This classic English-style ale is all about balance and drinkability. Featuring a rich malt character with notes of toffee, biscuit, and a subtle earthy hop presence. Smooth with light carbonation, enhancing its sessionable nature, making each pint effortlessly enjoyable. A nod to tradition with a Banks twist—cheers to a proper pint!”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Bold amber complexion with a thumb of off-white head perched neatly on top. Good retention and reasonable lacing as we go.

Aroma: We bagged this the second we saw it and there’s three reasons why. 1) It’s Banks. 2) It’s an ESB and we love a good ESB. 3) The beer is named after a well known quote from a favourite movie of one of ours (forgetting Sarah Marshall). It was the trifecta! Banks aren’t really known for their trad Euro styles and it’s on display a bit here. It’s very earthy, a little syrupy and cloying. Lacking in cohesion quite badly which is disappointing.

Flavour: Similar issues carry over to the palate. We get this unappealing mix of syrupy malt, earth and tangy orange. A hint of caramel and wood shavings are a nice touch though. A delicate bitterness runs through too but we can’t seem to get past the overall flavour of the beer which unfortunately makes us grimace each time we take a sip.

Mouthfeel: Not too bad. It’s smooth and buttery with the right amount of Co2. Medium body and the 5.2% ABV is right on the money.

Overall: Just like non-Belgian Trappist ales, good non-English ESB’s are a dime a dozen. When breweries such as Shepherd Neame have been mastering the style for nearly 330 years it kinda puts it into perspective. It appears Banks needs the same amount of time to master theirs.

Rating:

“Some of the oak casks at Samuel Smith’s date back more than a century with the individual oak staves being replaced by the Old Brewery coopers over the years. Gradually the casks soak in more & more of the character of the ale fermented in stone Yorkshire squares. Yorkshire Stingo is aged for at least a year, matured in these well-used oak casks in the brewery’s underground cellars deriving fruit, raisin, treacle toffee, Christmas pudding and slight oaky flavours, before being further naturally conditioned in bottle.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Pours more on the red side of amber with a thumb of finely beaded tan foam resting on top. Gradual reduction with sparse lacing.

Aroma: Quite an archetypal English Strong Ale. It’s complex, malty sweet and toasty. The one differing character is the notable fruitiness…it delivers an almost cherry-like quality with hints of strawberry and pomegranate. As it settles we get that black tea note which is so synonymous with English Ale. Toffee, fruitcake, figjam and subtle yeast esters also in support.

Flavour: The sweetness ramps up here. Initially we get a fleeting hint of molasses then rich toffee apple, red wine tannins, oak and an earthy tobacco ad-mixture. Typically these flavours would work well but there’s a distinct cloying sweetness which overarches the entire flavour profile and it’s unfortunately a tad off-putting. Shame.

Mouthfeel: Velvety, a little tart. Medium body with flat-ish Co2. The 8% ABV is fairly well behaved.

Overall: We don’t know about this one. Rarely do we encounter a well known English brewery that misses the mark on a traditional English Ale. There are some strong but also weak components to it so overall it’s a bit of a shame coz we were really looking forward to it.

Rating:

“XB was first brewed in 1982 to celebrate the purchase of the Carlisle Brewery by Theakstons a few years before. Brewed always and ever in Masham, XB was designed as a tribute to the classic ‘border’ style of beer, strong in gravity, low but complex hop. It was an instant success and has remained so, winning over real ale devotees all over the UK.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Pours a gorgeous amber complexion with a thumb of finely beaded khaki foam capping it off. Good head retention and reasonable lacing as it ebbs.

Aroma: Smells incredible. Exactly what we’d want an English ESB to smell like. It has that rich and extremely sweet toffee/caramel malt structure but it’s impeccably balanced by the spicy and earthy hops. Loving the mixed berries that are laced through as well. A hint of dark fruit i.e raisin, plum etc. Black tea, toast and marmalade/jammy qualities coming through too. Superb.

Flavour: We’re aware that the term “nectar of the Gods” is in reference to Mead (and rightfully so) but we’re gonna steal it on this occasion. From start to finish is this silky, sweet, fruity, hoppy and moreish liquid gold. Everything just fits perfectly and does everything we want it to do. The length on the back end too… sensational.

Mouthfeel: Chewy, velvety with a touch of bitterness in the swallow. Medium body and a tempered Co2. The 4.5% ABV is spot on as well.

Overall: Faultless. Certainly more on the “heavier” side of ESB’s (due to the darker colour and richness) but make no mistake, this is world class.

Rating:

“A stalwart of the British brewing scene – a beer style that showcases a brewery’s talent with both malt and hops.  ESB is balanced with delicious malt flavours then finishing with pleasant bitterness.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Pours an attractive deep amber with strong ruby red hues. A thumb of tan head reduces quite quickly and settles to a collar. Unfortunately not much in the way of lacing.

Aroma: Definitely sweet, definitely nutty and laden with caramel but it seems to lack that all-important English hop profile. Those floral, spicy and earthy characters are key to the perfect balance with this style. Sometimes these malty beers need a bit of time to properly open up but this one seems to be doubling down on the cloying malt-driven sweetness. Bit of a shame coz Boatrocker have nailed ESB’s before.

Flavour: We were quietly hoping the hops were hiding here in the flavour but nope, it’s more of the same. There’s nothing wrong with sweet caramels, nutty malt and brioche in an ESB but it has to have that crucial hop balance in our opinion. It simply isn’t here so we’re left with this overly sweet, artificial malt bomb from start to finish. Disappointing.

Mouthfeel: Slightly sticky but cloying and also lacking any vibrancy in the Co2 department. Medium body with a well positioned 5.5% ABV.

Overall: We’ve probably said all that needs to be said already. Badly unbalanced and not enjoyable to drink. A rare strike out for Boatrocker.

Rating:

“Introducing Coopers Vintage Ale Seasonal Release 2024 Limited Edition, the epitome of brewing mastery and innovation. Crafted with unparalleled precision and passion, this exceptional ale is a testament to Coopers’ legacy of excellence in brewing. Each year the brewing team at Coopers sets out to create a bespoke extra strong Ale, a release characterised by the hop selection that impart unique aroma and taste. The 2024 Vintage Ale features Solero, a German hop variety bursting with tropical fruit aromas including pineapple, mango and passionfruit.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Before we start we want to throw in here that we always like to give Cooper’s beers a good roll before cracking. Just to stir up the sediment where all the flavour is. Kinda muddy light brown-reddish pour with a lasting two finger head. Good retention and lacing.

Aroma: Aahh that classic Cooper’s ale yeast…haven’t taken that banana-laden scent in for a while! Like many of our previous Vintage Ale reviews, we’re drinking this fresh so the hops play a pivotal role in bringing the fruity and peppery aromas forward. Mostly stone fruits like rock melon, apricot and peach which is very nicely balanced by the toasty and earthy malt profile.

Flavour: Such a complex beer. One of the main things we love about it. Upfront there’s a healthy battle between the malt and hop bitterness. Due to it still being so young the hops win and keep charging through the mid palate. Those earthy, toasty and grainy malt flavours never give up though. They’re constantly in the background as it finishes rather fruity and bitter. Excellent length on it.

Mouthfeel: Chewy and a little sticky then bitter in the swallow. Medium body, lively Co2. The 7.5% ABV is well behaved for its size.

Overall: It’s certainly an acquired taste. When it’s this fresh we’re a bit 50/50 on them but once they’ve been laid down for a few years they really come to fruition. Looking forward to seeing how this evolves over the coming years.

Rating:

“Hobgoblin is a powerful full-bodied copper red, well-balanced brew. Strong in roasted malt with a moderate hoppy bitterness and slight fruity character that lasts through to the end.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Pours like a proper English Ale – light mahogany with notable ruby highlights. It forms a thick and creamy two finger head which holds its shape well. Tonnes of thick sudsy lace decorates the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: Overflowing with candied toffee/toffee apple, sweet dark fruits like juicy raisin, dates/prunes and glazed cherries. The more subtle chocolate notes emerge as it starts to warm…although it’s not straight chocolate, it comes across as fruit & nut and carob. It has a certain Barleywine and or Quad-like character with its ultra sweet residual sugars but it’s nicely balanced by a dose of earthy and spicy English hops.

Flavour: Super rich and complex for a mere 4.5% ABV beer. Again, those Quad-like flavours present with rich toffee, raisin and dark fruits. The subtle chocolate and carob only emphasize this further. What it does really well is it incorporates a distinct bitterness which goes a long way in offsetting the rich sweetness. Nicely balanced yet complex finish which holds on nicely.

Mouthfeel: Slick, gelatinous, chewy. Medium-full body. It drinks a whole lot bigger than the ABV (4.5%) entails.

Overall: Impressive how deep and complex it is but it’s just a tad too sweet and artificially tasting for us. Maybe it needs that extra 6% ABV on top to make it a Barleywine?! It’s certainly worthy but it’s not a return beer.

Rating:

“The drinkers’ favourite, a classic pale ale with a complex citrus and hoppy aroma. It has won more awards than any other beer, winning both CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain and the Brewing Industry Awards Gold Medal four times.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Pours a gorgeous bold amber hue and holds a sturdy two finger head. Excellent retention and equally excellent lace work as we go.

Aroma: Another edition to the “we can’t believe we haven’t reviewed this before” files. This beer has literally graced our fridges dozens of times over the past 15 or so years and not once has it crossed our minds to review it. Well here we go. Hallmark British Pale Ale features of caramel, sweet doughy bread/brioche, toast, marmalade, mandarin, orchard fruits and somewhat nutty and woody malt notes. Brilliant.

Flavour: Drinks almost exactly how it smells – a delicious sweetness washes over the palate but it’s kept in check by a perfectly integrated bitterness. It’s genius coz as it progresses that caramel sweetness and bitterness holds steadfast and it builds up from there with marmalade on toast, brioche, nutty and woody malts, buttered biscuits, a kind of floral-infused honey sweetness and a spicy herbal tea quality to finish.

Mouthfeel: Smooth but with good grip on its way down. Medium body, mild-moderate Co2. The 4.1% ABV is dead set spot on.

Overall: Absolutely brilliant. We were proper bummed when we heard Phoenix are no longer importing these to Australia. We hope another supplier picks them up as it is as good as an English Pale Ale gets.

Rating:

“Breheny Brothers Queensland Bitter Ale was RE launched based on the same recipe used when the beer was produced by cousins John Leslie Breheny and John Louis Breheny at Breheny’s Brewery in Toowoomba over 100 years ago. It is an easy drinking beer that will appeal to mainstream beer drinkers.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Deep golden complexion with a loose and fizzy head that swells to about a finger before forming a collar. Very little in the way of lacing.

Aroma: Very stock-standard characteristics here. It carries a hint of that aromatic English malt and hop which we loved about Wild Dog, but with a little bit extra bite in the form of of subtle yeast esters. Kind of has a hint of Cooper’s Sparkling Ale about it which we’re digging. Soft orange citrus tones, toasty malt, peppery spice, earthiness. A touch of apricot. Quite nice, we like it.

Flavour: Tell ya what if this really is the same recipe that the Breheny Brothers were brewing to all the way back in the late 1800’s then they were so far ahead of the game. It’s striking that balance between toasty, cereal malts and slightly citrusy, spicy hops. The bitterness is perfectly integrated and it all lands on such an incredibly neat and tidy finish. Good length on it as well.

Mouthfeel: Crisp and refined yet still holding a good weight. Finely carbed and the 5% ABV is right on the money.

Overall: Everything about this brewery we’re loving. The history, the OG labels, the quality of the beer. Even down to the fact that they chose Burnley Brewing to brew the beers for them. Onward and upward!

Rating:

“Copper-hued extra special bitter, crowned with a creamy bone white head. Medium in body with a malty, caramel and estery flavour and aroma. Punchy assertive bitterness moderating the malty sweetness.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Bold amber pour with 100% transparency. Good Co2 activity. Only manages a finger of off-white head which quickly reduces. A kind of wet lace is dragged down the glass.

Aroma: As we sat here writing out the appearance we kept getting Lager-like aromas i.e DMS (corn), vegetal notes and cereal grains. Not a lot changes under the nostrils either, the malt profile definitely offers more chewiness though… caramel, buttery biscuits and toast. Floral and herbaceous hops, a fleeting hint of watermelon buried deep. Interesting.

Flavour: It’s certainly unique how it’s straddling the line between Ale and Lager. It has Lager flavours reinforced by Ale complexities and body. Old world hops – florals, herbs, earthy/woody spice mixed in with caramels, honeysuckle, biscuits and toast. A gentle bitterness enters at the right moment and helps set up a well balanced, slightly fruity but mostly malty finish.

Mouthfeel: Slick, gelatinous. Medium body and mild-moderate Co2. The 4.5% ABV is a bit light for an ESB in our opinion.

Overall: Not totally sold on it but at the same time we can respect the idiosyncrasies on display.

Rating:

“An often maligned and under-rated style, the ESB is an absolute classic that often has nowhere to hide (in much the same way as a great lager or pilsner). It depends on only the finest English malt (Maris Otter) and judicious use of specialty malts. Achieving a balance between them and the English hops is no easy task. This beer style is traditionally served at cellar temperature with a lower carbonation, and the drinker should be able to sit on a pint without feeling the need to rush to finish it before it goes warm. Straight to VHS is our cheeky nod to a style we love, but that may not make it to the big screen.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Light amber to deep golden body with a slight chill haze. The head swells to about two fingers before retracting and settling to a film. Excellent lacing as we go.

Aroma: Like any good ESB this one is packed full of Maris Otter and the aroma is oozing with its nutty and biscuity characteristics. There’s a delicate sweetness alongside a faint toasty accent as well. No ESB would be complete without the use of English hops either and we’re picking up the subtleties of varieties such as EKG, fuggles and challenger. Pretty tidy.

Flavour: It’s good it just doesn’t have the depth and intensity of say, a Fuller’s or a Greene King. They’re definitely on the right track though…there’s a lovely spicy and herbaceous hop quality that weaves its way through the nutty, woody and slightly toasty malts. A soft bitterness develops late in the piece and helps set up the nicely balanced finish.

Mouthfeel: Fairly nondescript…smooth, medium bodied with a mild hop bitterness in the swallow. The 5.5% ABV is on par for the style.

Overall: Not bad. We like the fact that they’ve tried to keep it as conventional as possible. Probably wouldn’t rush back in a hurry but it’s a reasonable offering.

Rating:

“We invited a bunch of the brewery’s regulars to help make the beer they’ve all been asking for; a beer for the people, by the people… an extra special bitter. The brewing style is known for its’ balance and interplay between hop and malt, with this being no exception. A hint of fruit on the aroma, followed by a drop of sweetness on the palate, this medium-bodied local has plenty of rich flavour to give. What truly makes this Bitter extra special? The hands that helped create it.” 

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Moderately hazy amber pour with a big and frothy three finger crown. The head gradually recedes and leaves healthy lacing on the glass.

Aroma: Mostly sweet, bready and biscuity. Dominated by the chewy caramel malts but nicely checked by the fruity hops. Delicate toasty and nutty tones mingle with the overwhelmingly savoury notes beautifully. Good depth and overall character to this aroma, even if it is basic.

Flavour: They’ve certainly got the bitter side of things dialled in. Upfront there’s a moderate caramel sweetness then the hops barge in and practically reach all the way into the finish. They also provide a distinctly citrusy yet mildly spicy and herbaceous quality while a biscuity and nutty malt profile develops late and draws out in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Slick and a tad chewy with a substantial hop bitterness in the swallow. Medium body with good carb. The 5.1% ABV is about bang on for the style.

Overall: This was our first crack at this South Australian brewery. When we hear Bowden we immediately think of Billy Bowden (the quirky cricket umpire known for his hook-fingered dismissals). Unsure if there’s a connection but this ESB is somewhat like old Billy boy – no nonsense and full of character.

Rating:

“Warming, malty and fruity. Pale and amber malts contribute to a mouth-filling and satisfying Horlicks and biscuity maltiness. Challenger and First Gold give a base note of herbal hop and Fuggles as a late hop contributes the main fragrant fruity and floral and spicy notes. Fermented slowly to give just enough fruity esters Abbot Ale provides a complex, satisfying and warming experience.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: It pours a very attractive deep amber with full transparency. Not much in the way of head formation and the story is much the same with its lacing.

Aroma: Super sweet, but like all well brewed English ESB’s it’s perfectly balanced by a woody and earthy hop profile. Deep seated notes of caramel and toffee apple, marmalade, buttery biscuits and slightly nutty malt fill it all out beautifully. It has a certain residual sweetness to it which gives off an obscure Barleywine quality as well.

Flavour: Oh man there’s nothing like a traditional ESB in the middle of Spring – rich and sweet malts behind a veil of English hops. It strikes the perfect balance between malty sweet butterscotch, raisins and caramel with woody, floral and spicy hops. Gentle toasty notes and subtle fruit developing late in the piece. Nice, dry and earthy finish to round it all out.

Mouthfeel: Slick, chewy and gelatinous. Medium body. The 5% ABV is spot on.

Overall: One of the best ESB’s we’ve had for a while. Very impressive.

Rating:

“What started as a foray into a Creamsicle Sour quickly became this malty yet easy-sipping staple. The grain provider for the brewery shipped a base malt that was bigger, more robust, and more chock full of caramelly notes than the Heavy Reel team expected. That’s really nice, but unfortunately doesn’t vibe with dessert-inspired Sours. So what did the New Jersey crew do with that “happy accident”? They turned on the Grateful Dead, cracked their knuckles, and got to brewing, adding in a dose of extra specialty malts from past batches to elevate the caramel and spice notes to unseen amber-hued brew heights!”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Attractive deep amber pour with a billowing four finger head. It gradually deconstructs and leaves blotchy lace clinging to the glass.

Aroma: Initially we were thinking it was very true-to-style but a few more wafts reveal an emerging toffee-laden sweetness which intensifies. It almost has this dark berry-like fruitiness driving it as well. Quite astonishingly though, it all seems to have reformed that classic earthy, toasty and tobacco-esque quality and is back to its true-to-style self again. Bizarre…but very appealing.

Flavour: It kinda finds this happy little medium here. Getting shades of that black and or boysenberry-driven toffee sweetness along with shades of nutty, toasty and herbaceous earthiness as well. They both come together harmoniously but it’s the delicate bitterness that rounds it all out. Nice smooth finish….a tad fruity and a tad dry.

Mouthfeel: Fairly light on but with enough to chew on. Smooth, finely carbed, the 6% ABV is well behaved.

Overall: Our first crack at this brewery from New Jersey. Can’t say we’re totally sold on it but it’s a pretty respectable interpretation of an old English classic.

Rating:

“Each year, the Coopers brewing team creates a unique limited-edition Vintage Ale. This year’s Vintage Ale, the 22nd in the series, is characterised by its hop selection. The 2022 Vintage features El Dorado, an American dual-purpose hop with tropical, pear and stonefruit notes and Huell Melon, a German variety delivering fruit and berry flavours. The brew also uses Coopers Pale Malt. Coopers Managing Director and Chief Brewer, Dr Tim Cooper, said the 2022 Vintage Ale release exemplifies the brewery’s experience in developing of premium quality, limited edition beers.”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Murky light brown complexion with the standard fusion of fine suspended sediment floating about. It forms a thumb of off white head which retains fairly well. Patchy lace sticks to the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: Really harnessing ye olde English style here. We guess that’s what we love most about not only this seasonal release but Cooper’s Brewery as a whole. Showcasing a robust malt profile of bread/toast, caramel fudge and earthy grains but because it’s still so young the hop additions display bright fruity notes which brings a crucial balance to the nose.

Flavour: Wow those hops keep coming! We’d go as far as to say that the fruit and bitterness actually outweigh the malts here. Not quite to the point of an English IPA but it’s certainly close to it. It hits a crescendo of yellow grapefruit then the malts and the classic Cooper’s yeast take the baton and finish with a dry, toasty and grainy quality that lingers.

Mouthfeel: Chewy yet quite dry and sharp. Medium body. The 7.5% ABV shows up intermittently.

Overall: We’re in two minds. We like the bold hoppy characters but at the same time we were yearning for a malt bomb. Hey, it’s nothing a few years in the cellar can’t fix 

Rating:

“This Ale is an Imperial version of our ESB that has been aged in VSOP Brandy Barrels, and Bourbon Barrels before blending.”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Murky deep amber kind of affair with a thumb of frothy off white head capping it off. Reasonable retention but scarce lace left on the glass.

Aroma: It’s pretty cool that they could even get their hands on ex VSOP barrels to begin with let alone use them for a Double ESB. It’s a risk we’re impressed by and it does actually work well. The distinct notes of baked apple/candied pear, vanilla and fresh apricot blend well with the sweet, bready/toasty and earthy notes of the ESB. Also some light florals and musky tones peeking through too.

Flavour: Again, lots of fruit, lots of sweetness and syrupy/sugary goodness but not a whole lot of balance unfortunately. We feel they’ve got a bit carried away with all the ingredients and it’s all sort of cancelled each other out. Galaxy and Mosaic hops (as brilliant as they are) are probably a bit too fancy for this style of beer and the bourbon gets completely overshadowed by the VSOP. Not to mention the classic ESB notes are hide to locate.

Mouthfeel: Nice weight to it. Smooth and rounded, slightly lifted Co2, medium body. The 9% ABV was very well hidden.

Overall: We rate Hargreaves Hill highly and we really wanted to like this but it just didn’t cut the mustard. Big points for securing ex VSOP barrels but it all felt out of sync as a whole.

Rating:

“Brewed for Ale + Gravy 91 Aro, 2021 (part of WOAP). Epuni Street is a particularly iconic street in Aro Valley. It is, notably, the host of the annual Compost Parade. “Each year on the Sunday after the Equinox, the simple but beautiful cycle that creates compost is celebrated and in true Aro style there is music, food and costumes. The Compost Parade has become a popular event in the past few years, bringing together compost lovers from all over Wellington.” The parade is in September, features a Golden Compost Bucket which is ceremoniously carried up the street and GP usually shouts a bunch of flagons to this noble cause. It has been running for 8 years!”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Gorgeous amber pour with a faint ruby red tint when held to the light. A thumb of creamy off white head settles on top and weaves a fine lace down the glass.

Aroma: We were quietly hoping it was going to be a conventional take on an ESB and it is exactly that. At its core is a beautifully sweet and chewy caramel malt profile which offers up nuanced toffee, maple and buttery biscuits. Exquisitely balanced by the earthy hops though, and further offset by the classic spicy and herbal characters of EKG and Fuggles. Supoib!

Flavour: One of those rare moments where it’s too well balanced! When it comes to ESB’s we love them more on the malty side with the bitterness tucked in behind. The earthy hops/bitterness is a tad too prominent here in our opinion. Still, it has a nice chewy caramel malt backing, some dark fruits and toast along with the spicy and delicate florals/herbals from the hops. Nice dry and bitter finish with some malt sweetness to balance.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, chewy and a little sticky. Medium body. Perfect carbonation and ABV (5.5%).

Overall: What was shaping up to be a sensational ESB kind of fell away a bit in the middle unfortunately. That aside, it’s still a reasonably good interpretation of the style.